Sir David Attenborough

Sir David Attenborough holds a unique position in the world of TV and Baftas. He's the only person to have won the award for programmes in black and white, colour, HD and 3D. "I started with the first television cameras with glowing valves, so it's nice to be here with the new thing," he says of his string of 3D spectaculars, including the recent Micro Monsters 3D, Galapagos 3D and Natural History Museum Alive.

The changing technology has has an impact on Britain's favourite presenter's work in other ways, too. "The first time I went to the Gomantong Caves in Borneo in 1973 was the first time they were on television. We just walked through guano, with very little light. This time, I was suspended from a rope 250ft above the ground with a radio-controlled camera hovering in front of me and hundreds of bats coming out of the cave," says the 87-year-old. "That, in a way, epitomises the change."

Best documentary "Rory Stewart's Border Country was excellent. It was in depth, made by someone who knew his subject backwards, and beautifully put together."TV idol "The great champion of BBC values, Huw Wheldon. I worked with him when I was director of programmes at BBC2 for the best part of eight years. For me he exemplified the standards of the BBC."TV insight "It's interesting how television handles monsters and science fiction. I've enjoyed Doctor Who from a technical point of view. Before that The Quatermass Experimenttransfixed the nation."

David Attenborough's Conquest of the Skies 3D is in production and will premiere on Sky 3D this winter

Susanna Reid

Susanna Reid: 'Strictly is the most fantastic show to be on – you’re on a cloud of sequins for four months.' Photograph: Chris Floyd for the Observer

"Very, very exciting," is how Susanna Reid describes life as the frontwoman of Good Morning Britain, ITV's new breakfast TV show. "It's a challenge, but I feel great about it – it's an adventure." The show's April debut has enjoyed positive reviews, but Reid says that the best feedback comes directly from the viewers. "There's no filter on social media; you know instantly what an audience thinks. It's nice to be interactive. The audience feels intimately connected with you – you're in their kitchen, their bedroom. They feel they can talk to you directly." Her other big hit in the last 12 months was, of course, Strictly Come Dancing. "I loved doing it," she says. "I hope I encouraged people to try dancing. It's the most fantastic show to be on – you're on a cloud of sequins for four months."

Favourite current TV "I watch Newsnight, the One O'Clock News, all the news shows." Favourite childhood TV "Press Gang."Favourite boxset "The West Wing. I used to watch it on the commute to Manchester." TV idol "Angela Rippon. She's blazed a trail and she's a fantastic, intelligent and powerful woman."

Krishnan Guru-Murthy

Krishnan Guru-Murthy: 'It?s a bit weird that my most famous interview is with a movie director rather than a politician.' Photograph: Chris Floyd for the Observer

Krishnan Guru-Murthy has reported from Afghanistan, Sarajevo, Moscow; he's grilled Gorbachev and Abu Hamza. But his best-known interview involves Quentin Tarantino saying: "I'm shutting your butt down!" He smiles. "It's a bit weird that my most famous interview is with a movie director rather than a politician." Would he talk to QT again? "Yes, of course! I think a return match would be fun."

The C4 news anchorman is used to confrontation: "You've got to be up for it because sometimes it's necessary." In his early 20s, he cut his teeth on Newsround, which he says was the most challenging journalistic training. "You can't assume knowledge from children, so you've really got to understand the story yourself."

In this past year, Guru-Murthy has been to Afghanistan to report on domestic violence against women – "we were an all-male crew and it felt like quite an achievement to have them talk openly" – and to Cairo. "The military announced President Morsi had fallen while we were on air. I was there with the crowds while they were celebrating… a lot of the time breaking news has no significance, it just means something has just happened and we're telling you about it, but that was a really exciting moment."

TV crush "When I was a kid I had a crush on Sarah Greene. I presented a programme with her when I was 18, but I don't think I've ever told her."Guilty pleasure "I watch X Factor, but I don't regard it as a guilty pleasure."Reality TV show I wish I'd done "Fame Academy for Comic Relief. I've been asked to do all the big ones and always said no because it didn't feel right."TV idol "I think the closest I've had to one might be David Dimbleby. And bizarrely we buy our ties from the same tie maker, Gresham Blake in Brighton."Show you'd bring back "Tomorrow's World." Best TV pairing "As performers Morecambe and Wise. As presenters Richard and Judy."

Tess Daly

Tess Daly: 'Strictly is pure adrenaline and it’s thrilling. I love the challenge.' Photograph: Chris Floyd for the Observer

Tess Daly is unlikely to forget our photoshoot in a hurry. "I found out Bruce was leaving Strictly as I walked in the studio door," she says. After some hush and flurry and a dab of make-up, Daly went on with the show like the pro she is. You don't work for a decade on a top-rated live TV show without knowing how to pull yourself together.

"It's a testing form of television," says Daly of staring live down the camera's lens at Strictly Come Dancing's 12 million viewers. "It's pure adrenaline and it's thrilling. I love the challenge."

Will she love it as much now Bruce Forsyth has bowed out as co-host? "I respect his decision. I absolutely love Brucie to bits and we're friends. We're lucky to have enjoyed such a successful run."

Favourite childhood TV "Tiswas, Blue Peter… I used to watch Jim'll Fix It, but you can't say that now."Earliest TV memory "Watching Mr Benn."Favourite newsreader "Fiona Bruce. She's warm, but with real authority." Favourite box sets "I'm the last person alive to watch Breaking Bad because Vernon [Kay] hogged the box set. Also Sex and the City – it reminds me of when I lived in New York." Favourite current shows "Anything with travel, baking or property and I'm there. Richard E Grant's Hotel Secrets because he's so naughty. Hotel Secrets and Bake-Off."Best TV comedy "Gogglebox."

Caroline Flack

Caroline Flack: 'I try to put myself in the contestants' shoes, and think of it as a conversation rather than an interview.' Photograph: Chris Floyd for the Observer

The secret to a good interview, says Flack, is to overprepare. "I'm a perfectionist so I'm ready for every eventuality." Talking to nervous X Factor contestants on companion show The Xtra Factor involves a big dose of empathy, too. "I try to put myself in their shoes, and think of it as a conversation rather than an interview."

With the search for Britain's next singing superstar on hiatus, Flack's latest project is ITV2 panel show Viral Tap, which she says is "a mix of You've Been Framed! and 8 Out of 10 Cats". Despite her years at the reality TV coalface, she doesn't flinch at the thought of appearing on a celebrity show. "I'd definitely do Strictly Come Dancing. Everyone comes out of it saying they had the best time of their life."

Favourite children's TV "In our house we had one telly and we all watched it, so it was Blind Date, Gladiators and The Generation Game."TV crush "Zack from Saved by the Bell and Jason Donovan as Scott Robinson on Neighbours."TV show you'd like to bring back "The Mighty Boosh – they could definitely do series 4."Favourite TV comedy "Curb Your Enthusiasm. I like to go to bed and watch Larry. I'm also a massive Mr Bean fan."

Dynamo

'I was always an oddball': Dynamo. Photograph: Chris Floyd for the Observer

Magician Steven Frayne, better known by his stage name, Dynamo, says he owes everything to his late grandfather, Ken. "He was my father figure. He taught me how to ride a bike and my first card trick; he prepared me for the world." Frayne was 10 at the time and being picked on at school in Bradford. "I tried the card trick on the kids that had bullied me and they stopped. I'd impressed them," he says. "Of course they then spread rumours that I was a crazy demon child with superpowers, so I played on that – and so did my grandpa. It gave me an edge: I'd always been the oddball at school."

Frayne's natural flair for magic has led to him performing all over the world – most famously walking on the river Thames in 2011 – and he is in high demand with A-list celebrities, who often feature on his BBC1 show Dynamo: Magician Impossible. Was there anyone in particular who impressed him? "Samuel L Jackson is quite an intimidating guy – he was tricky (no pun intended), he's extremely intelligent and doesn't let his guard down, but I think I had the Dynamo effect on him in the end."

Favourite childhood TV "Masked Crusaders – it was brilliant and I loved the toys."Favourite current show "Sons of Anarchy. I'm going to grow a long beard and get a motorbike one day."TV show you'd bring back "MacGyver."Favourite box set "Entourage – my all time favourite show."Best newsreader "Trevor McDonald."Best TV detective "Columbo."